McGair: Bogaerts may be new to Triple A, but he's no stranger to PawSox

June 13, 2013

By BRENDAN McGAIRbmcgair@pawtuckettimes.com
PAWTUCKET â âIâll keep it short. Heâs really good. In all phases.â
Clearly, the scout that spoke about Xander Bogaerts is a big-time admirer, the former basing his opinion on what he saw when the latter was in Double-A Portland earlier this season. The Red Sox echoed the scoutâs sentiment when they officially promoted the 20-year-old to Triple-A Pawtucket on Thursday.
Bogaerts steps in a PawSox clubhouse that features plenty of familiar faces. Manager Gary DiSarcina was the Red Sox minor-league infield coordinator in 2010, a season that marked Bogaertsâ first foray into pro ball. Pawtucket hitting coach Dave Joppie also worked with Bogaerts during the final month of the 2012 season in Portland.
âI remember how young and raw he was. I think he might have been 17 in 2010,â recalled DiSarcina.
Rating by Baseball America as the top-rated prospect in the Red Sox farm system, Bogaerts was hitting .311 in 56 games for Portland with 12 doubles, 6 triples, 6 home runs and 35 RBI. His .311 average was 10th best in the Eastern League and his 6 triples tied for the league lead.
âIâll just be patient. Iâll try to do the same thing Iâve been doing in Portland. Iâll see how the pitchers are trying to pitch me. The first couple of weeks, Iâll see how theyâre pitching me so I can take that going forward,â said Bogaerts.